Chapter 18: Piano


Fang PoV


"What is he doing here?"

Fang was furious. Max was depending on him. She was trusting him to keep her Flock safe.

"Well?" He practically snarled at Bella, who the guy was hiding behind. "It was a condition of bringing Max here; Dog-Breath boys didn't come."

Bella winced at the venom in his voice. Edward stepped in front of her slightly, his eyes flashing.

"We thought Seth should come here so that he did not run round telling everyone your little secret." Edward gave Fang an incredibly smug look, obviously thinking he had won.

"Guys! Get your stuff, we're going." The Flock all jumped into action. None of them questioned him.

"What?" Edward's eyes widened. "You can't go! Max is sick!"

"You broke the deal."

Fang felt the Flock gathering behind him. He vaguely registered Nudge gasping.

"Let us discuss this?" Carlisle asked pleadingly.

"You have two minutes." Fang sent another glare at Seth.

"Seth is not one of the Pack. He simply lives around La Push. We don't know why he was there. We thought you should decide yourself what to do about him seeing your wings." Edward said quickly.

"And the Pack is...?" Fang asked.

"Sam's... Gang. For absence of a better word. They are sort of like the authority around La Push. They make sure nobody steps out of line." Edward struggled to explain.

"Why do you have something against them, anyway? And what do you mean by 'Dog-Breath'?"

Fang turned to Bella.

"They remind me of something I'd rather forget. Especially him." He answered shortly.

It was the truth. These people reminded him of Erasers. The guy who threw Max off the cliff even morphed.

Though it must be a new breed. He was much bigger and seemed more natural.

This kid though was, in Fang's opinion, the worst of them. If it was the guy who morphed Fang would simply rip him to shreds. As he did to anyone who even thought of going anywhere near Max.

But Seth reminded him of...two people he absolutely despised.

When Seth looked at Max earlier he had that same glint in his eyes. Fang had seen it too many times. Been hurt by the very people who wore it. Though not as much Max had been hurt. She had loved the two. It killed Fang to admit it, but she had loved them. And they betrayed her. There was no way Seth was getting anywhere near her.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nudge run her hand along a piano.

She stood thoughtfully for a second then sat on the stool. Placing her hands lightly on the keys and closing her eyes, she began to play.

The peaceful music filled the room and Fang felt the anger slipping away. The rest of the Flock smiled at Nudge's serene face. Angel and the Gasman clapped as the music drew to a close.

"How did you know that? That's Bella's Lullaby. Edward wrote it." Emmett asked.

"I dunno. I heard Edward play it when Fang was upstairs. I thought it was so pretty! I'd never even seen a piano before, 'cept on TV. It was on a cartoon, 'Tom and Jerry'. It sounded really cool! I love the way it just flows, you know? Like when we were in New York we passed a music shop and there was this gorgeous piano in the window. I wanted to go in and play. I never had before. Oh, I hope you don't mind?" Nudge looked up at Edward with big brown eyes.

"Um, guys?" Angel went unnoticed.

"No, of course I don't mind. But you have never played before?" Nudge shook her head. "You must have an amazing natural talent. Try playing this."

Fang smirked as Edward sat gracefully at the piano.

The only reason Nudge could play at all was that she was picking up the vibrations left over from Edward playing.

"Fang?" Angel tugged on his sleeve.

Not right now. He thought, knowing full well she would hear him.

"But its Max," Edward stopped playing. Everyone looked at the little girl's scared face, "She's not breathing."